Women at Disneyland's 1st day return

Mary Lechlitner, 96, of Balboa Island says she's been to every Disneyland birthday ceremony since opening day. Her husband helped develop the Disneyland Railroad. She was joined by her daughter, Kathy Parks, 71, at Tuesday's ceremony, which marked the park's 57th anniversary.JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Lechlitner's husband, Dick, helped build a train for the Disneyland railroad. Lechlitner and Parks have vivid memories of the orange groves and the way crews plotted out the different lands before the park was constructed. Dick Lechlitner went on to work on other rides, including the Matterhorn, build models and work in the studios, they said. He died in 1986.

"We've grown up with it," Lechlitner said.

On Disneyland's opening day, Parks said the family had to wait to for the first group of celebrities, including Art Linkletter, to ride the train before they could get on.

Lechlitner still has a lifetime Disneyland pass, which includes guest tickets, so she often takes people to the park. A few days ago, four generations of the family went to Cars Land in adjacent Disney California Adventure.

At Tuesday's ceremony, Lechlitner sat beneath shade in the front as dozens of Disney characters, including Mickey, of course, came out to lead a group that sang "Happy Birthday" to Disneyland. Hundreds of fans crowded around the circular plaza in Town Square to watch the five-minute gathering.

Lechlitner has difficulty seeing and hearing, so she was unable to listen to a replay of Walt Disney's speech on opening day.

"I would have loved to hear that," she said.

Parks said her mother wanted to come to Disneyland on Tuesday for one last anniversary.

Parks wasn't having that: "I said, 'No, you'll be doing it for a while.'"

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Mary Lechlitner, 96, of Balboa Island says she's been to every Disneyland birthday ceremony since opening day. Her husband helped develop the Disneyland Railroad. She was joined by her daughter, Kathy Parks, 71, at Tuesday's ceremony, which marked the park's 57th anniversary. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Characters, music and a brief fireworks burst over Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A., mark the theme park's 57th anniversary Tuesday, July 17. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Characters, music and a brief fireworks burst over Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A., mark the theme park's 57th anniversary Tuesday, July 17. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Characters, music and a brief fireworks burst over Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A., mark the theme park's 57th anniversary Tuesday, July 17. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Characters, music and a brief fireworks burst over Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A. mark the theme park's 57th anniversary Tuesday, July 17. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jon Storbeck, vice president of Disneyland Park at Disneyland Resort, left, and George Kalogridis, president of the Disneyland Resort, share a laugh on the steps on Main Street Station at Disneyland following a brief ceremony to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the park. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Mary Lechlitner, 96, of Balboa Island says she's been to every Disneyland birthday ceremony since opening day. Her husband helped develop the Disneyland Railroad. She was joined by her daughter, Kathy Parks, 71, at Tuesday's ceremony, which marked the park's 57th anniversary. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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